Chef's Dinner at Two Steps to aid Wyatt Foundation

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), Newstimes

Published 1:00 am, Tuesday, March 24, 2009

DANBURY ­-- A Chef's Dinner with live music and a silent auction is set for March 28 in Danbury. The dinner is a benefit for The Wyatt Foundation, which aids in the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

A muscle-wasting disease which is always terminal, Duchenne affects approximately one in 3,500 male children. The Wyatt Foundation was formed to raise awareness of this devastating illness, and to help support those afflicted.

The private Chef's Table will be from 7 to 10 p.m. at Two Steps Downtown Grille, at 5 Ives St. in Danbury. The evening will feature a hand-selected, four-course meal paired with a fine selection of wines. Guests will receive a cappuccino martini as a welcome cocktail, and acoustic guitarist
Marc Huberman
will play throughout the evening.

The menu is as follows: first course -- layered vegetable salad; second course -- petite bouillabaisse with shrimp and scallops; third course -- unwrapped beef wellington; and finally, guests will finish the meal with a smoldering volcano chocolate cake.

Tom Devine, chef and co-owner of Two Steps Downtown Grille and Ciao! Catering and Events, offers similar Chef's Tables regularly at the restaurant and collaborated with the foundation to plan this fundraiser.

"The start of the evening is extremely social with guests mingling with their featured cocktail," Devine said. "Once we get going, Keith (O'Marra, co-owner of Two Steps and Ciao!) and I will (interact) with the guests, entertain and basically fool around before we start each course.

"We also pick people at random to stand up and give toasts. Wine is poured throughout the evening as well. The goal is to supply everyone with a great meal while not taking ourselves or the guests too seriously," Devine went on to say.

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For more information about the event or about donations to The Wyatt Foundation, call (203) 312-9804, e-mail thewyattfoundation@gmail.com, or visit
www.thewyattfoundation.org
. Seats for the Chef's Table are $60 per person and may be purchased by sending a check made payable to The Wyatt Foundation, P.O. Box 8030, New Fairfield, CT, 06812. Multiple seat discounts are available.

The Wyatt Foundation was created in 2008 by the family and friends of 11-year-old
Wyatt Keeley
of New Fairfield, who is afflicted with Duchenne. He was diagnosed at the age of 3. His parents, Wayne and
Joanne Keeley
, soon learned that Wyatt would first lose his ability to enjoy simple physical pursuits, eventually become confined to a wheelchair, and finally lose the battle, most likely in his late teens.

The Wyatt Foundation serves to raise awareness; to make available the very best in support and resources to both those boys living with Duchenne as well as their families; and to assist in the search for treatment.

On a larger scale, the desire also is to reach beyond this and make the same resources available to individuals and their loved ones who are dealing with other chronic and terminal illnesses and disabilities.